With the start of a new season, Foran’s cross country team is entering a new era under the guidance of two new coaches. Bringing a fresh new perspective and years of experience, coaches Sarah Barrett and Thomas Hair are dedicated to refining the current teams, strengthening individual performance, and pushing every runner to reach their full potential.
Barrett oversees the girls’ cross country team, bringing six years of coaching experience to the role. She shares, “Ever since being a track athlete myself and now an avid marathon runner, I’ve been passionate about running fundamentals and running physiology. It is a joy to get to teach young athletes how to excel in their sport and develop as a runner.”
Her enthusiasm for the sport and commitment to her athletes will undoubtedly elevate the team to new heights.
Although Barrett just recently began her time at Foran, she’s already passionate about her role. “I love being the Foran Girls Cross Country coach. It’s my favorite part of the day leaving my office day job and to come train these ladies. They are always so positive and excited to take on challenges at practice and meets,” Barrett claims.
Her love for coaching and for her athletes is evident in the way she speaks about them. She states, “They are so determined and hard working and the camaraderie and team spirit among these athletes is unmatched. What stands out the most to me about this particular group of student-athletes is their character, always being friendly and welcoming to teams they are competing against and always cheering on both their own teammates and their opponents.”
Cross country senior captain Allie Regan observes the differences in dynamic of the team with Coach Barrett.
“I think the new coach has definitely switched up practices by focusing on more speed workouts. But similar to Coach Ramsey, we warm up with active dynamics and do a stationary stretch after,” Regan details.
Regan notices her skills developing with the new season, attributing her improvements to the training Barrett has implemented.
“The new coach, Coach Barrett, has been focusing on fast intervals and keeping good form at the end of a race. So I feel like my finish in races is getting better,” she mentions.
Regan draws attention to the differences she sees in cross country in general with the introduction of Barrett.
“One of the biggest changes in practices is that they start earlier, at 2:15 rather than 2:30 and we are on the track much more doing speed intervals.”
P.E. teacher Mr. Thomas Hair has taken up the coaching position for boys cross country this year. Although it is a new environment, Hair has had experience as a Foran coach through his time as girls basketball coach.
Hair emphasizes his appreciation to coaching the boys cross country team and how his experience as coach has been so far.
Hair notes, “honestly it’s been awesome to see the kids flourish in their first meeting as well as their second meet, practices have been super fun and the kids are good energy.”
Hair reflects on the new perspective that coaching cross country has introduced.
“It’s been good to see students outside of the realm of being… a student, a student athlete is part of who they are as well so it’s good to see them push past their limits and th
ats the best part for me,” adds Hair.
It’s safe to say that the cross country teams are in good hands, with hopeful prospects, at
